A year in the life of Kew GardensJanuary Start the year by enjoying colourful holly, other winter berries and fragile snowdrops in the fresh, open air of the Gardens or the tropical delights of the steamy glasshouses.

February This year’s Orchids Festival runs from 4 February to 5 March and is a colourful celebration of India’s vibrant plants and cultures. Entry is included in the cost of admission to the Gardens.

MarchEarly spring is drenched with pristine colour as myriad bulbs and clusters of delicate buds burst into life including camellias, crocuses and daffodils.

AprilConfetti-like cherry blossom, magnificent magnolias and colourful tulips help transform the Gardens. This year’s family-focused Easter Festival runs from 1 to 17 April and is inspired by the illustrated world of the Moomins.

MayCarpets of native bluebells, showy azaleas and banks of early rhododendrons abound as nature heralds the change in season from spring to summer.

JuneGently scented flowers in the traditional Rose Garden complement the more exotic perfume of the Mediterranean Garden in early summer and the Waterlily House is awash with new blooms.

July to AugustSummer’s horticultural highlight is the dazzling display of colour that is created by The Great Broad Walk Borders. Stretching for more than 1,000ft (300m), they feature more than 30,000 flowering plants.

SeptemberAs summer turns to autumn, the leaves of the Arboretum’s specimen trees from around the world turn from greens to golds, oranges, reds and scarlets.

OctoberThe Treetop Walkway, located in the Arboretum, affords stunning, bird’s-eye views at this time of year as you witness the Gardens from high in the tree canopy.

November to DecemberChristmas at Kew – our magical, after-dark experience – is a beautiful, illuminated trail through the Gardens. Running from 22 November 2017 to 1 January 2018, this separately ticketed event is now in its fifth year.

Explore Kew Gardens and Wakehurst

JapaneseGateway

MediterraneanGarden

Rose Garden

Waterlily House

Rhododendron Dell

Oak Collection

Minka House &Bamboo Garden

Waterlily Pond

Pinetum

Azalea GardenMagnolias

ConservationArea

Davies Alpine House

Duke’s Garden

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The BotanicalOpening soon

RIVER THAMES

FERRY LANE

KEW ROAD

Kew Gardens Station 0.5 km(District Line & London Overground)

Kew Bridge Station 0.8 kmacross Kew Bridge(South West Trains)

Richmond Station 1 kmSouth West Trains, District Line & London Overground

Towpath to Kew Pierand boats

The Orangery

White Peaks Café and Shop

Victoria PlazaCafé and Shop

Pavilion RestaurantClosed during winter

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LION GATE

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Princess of Wales Conservatory

Kew Kitchen Garden

Palm HousePalm House

Temperate HouseClosed for restoration

Treetop Walkway

PagodaClosed for restoration Marianne North

Gallery

The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art

Queen Charlotte’sCottage

Closed during winter

Sackler Crossing

Kew PalaceClosed during winter

The Hive

Royal KitchensClosed during winter

The Great Broad Walk Borders

GETTING HERE

Kew Gardens is less than 10 miles from Heathrow airport and is easily accessible by road (M4, M25 and M3). Just 30 minutes from central London, it has excellent public transport links for London underground, national rail and riverboat.

Our postcode is TW9 3AB

OPENING TIMES

Daily from 10am. Closing times vary according to season.

Kew Gardens is closed to the public on 24 and 25 December.

Welcome to Kew Gardens

There have been royal gardens at Kew since 1759 – the same year

that the British Museum first opened its doors and that the first pint

of Guinness was poured. Founded by Princess Augusta, Princess of

Wales and mother of King George III, Kew Gardens is, today, home to

the largest and most diverse collection of living plants anywhere in the

world. In 2003, it was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in

recognition of its advancement of botany and ecology. It is regarded as

a scientific research centre of global importance.

Set in 326 acres (132 hectares) of exceptional landscape featuring

glasshouses, a royal palace, art galleries and immersive installations as

well as stunning floral displays, Kew Gardens is the perfect day out for

visitors of all ages.

In 2016, Kew Gardens was voted Best Attraction

in London as part of the Worldwide Attractions Awards.

KEY

Key attractions Restaurants, cafés and shops

Kew Explorer route

Pathway Grass pathway

The Great Broad Walk Borders

Featuring over 30,000 flowering plants, The Great Broad Walk Borders is the largest horticultural project to be undertaken at Kew Gardens for nearly 30 years. Flanking both sides of the 1050ft (320m) long Broad Walk, the borders present a swathe of colour from early spring to late autumn, with the summer months of June, July and August providing the floral highlights. The planting is arranged over eight beds, each with its own distinct theme.

Opened in June 2016, The Hive is a fully immersive, interactive aluminium and steel structure designed by Wolfgang Buttress. Conceived to highlight the plight of the honeybee and to underline the vital role that bees play in pollinating the world’s crop species, this 55ft (17m) high installation is connected to a real beehive in the Gardens. Microchips inside the beehive detect the bees’ movement, which in turn activates a light and soundscape in The Hive itself.

The Hive

The ultra-modern Davies Alpine House contains some of Kew’s extensive collection of alpine plants. Automatically operated blinds prevent overheating and a ventilation system provides constant airflow to ensure these delicate plants are kept at optimum temperature all year round.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales Conservatory, opened by Diana, Princess of Wales, features ten different zones, each representing distinct climate conditions. It showcases the variety of plants that grow on the planet and how they have adapted to extremes of heat and humidity.

The iconic Palm House was built in the mid-1840s by architect Decimus Burton and iron-maker Richard Turner. Today it is home to plants from the tropical regions of the world, with temperatures kept at a steamy 81˚F (27˚C) all year round.

Next to the Palm House is the Waterlily House. Quietly unassuming compared to its neighbour, it nonetheless features some of the Gardens’ most incredible plant specimens. From the giant Victoria amazonica to Nymphaea thermarum, the world’s smallest waterlily.

Glasshouses

The former residence of King George III, Kew Palace is open from 1 April to 1 October and admission is included in the cost of entry to the Gardens. It has been thoughtfully restored and offers a fascinating insight into the life of the royal family in the late 18th century. Next to the Palace are the Georgian Kitchens, which originally serviced the White House (now demolished) and act as a reminder of the difference between life above and below stairs.

Kew Palace

Kew Gardens is home to two remarkable art galleries. The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art – the only one in the world dedicated solely to the art-form – showcases work from new artists as well as from its own, extensive collections. A modern gallery, it offers a rolling programme of exhibitions.

Next door is the Marianne North Gallery. Named after the intrepid, late 19th century explorer and artist, the gallery features 832 of the paintings which catalogued her travels around the world.

Art Galleries

As well as the exceptional attractions, Kew Gardens provides wonderful opportunities for shopping and has a number of different catering offers.

Victoria Plaza Shop and Café

Enjoy an exclusive range of bespoke Kew-branded gifts as well as beautiful books and plants in the shop, then treat your taste buds to delectable breakfast pots, hot pies, seasonal cakes, fresh pastries, and hot or cold drinks in the café. It’s the perfect start or finish to your visit.

White Peaks Café and Shop

A great shopping experience for visitors with young adventurers that’s packed full of toys and children’s books as well as more traditional gifts. The adjacent café provides a playful space that entertains both children and adults alike, offering a wide and tasty variety of children’s meals, fresh salads and ready-to-go food, plus sweet treats and drinks.

The Orangery

Relax and enjoy a delicious selection of hot dishes, fresh salads, cakes and drinks, whilst taking in the stunning surroundings of The Orangery. For those eager to explore the Gardens, there’s a great choice of ready-to-go delights.

Pavilion Restaurant

Al fresco dining is the name of the game at the Pavilion, offering tasty food from the grill and outside barbecue as well as healthy salads, drinks and meals to go.

The Botanical

Discover an exciting afternoon tea experience, inspired by Kew Gardens’ own plants, sumptuous seasonal flatbreads with a twist, and carefully selected alcoholic beverages in the latest addition to our catering offer.

Catering and shopping

Popular with visitors of all ages is the hop-on, hop-off land train service, the Kew Explorer. Operating regular, scheduled departures throughout the year, the service offers the opportunity to explore some of the further reaches of the Gardens while the driver provides guided commentary throughout. There are seven stops along the route to allow passengers to explore areas in more depth. It is an ideal service for those with limited time or with mobility issues. Additional charges apply.

Kew Explorer

Spring sees Wakehurst’s woods and meadows carpeted with crocuses, daffodils and bluebells while azaleas and rhododendrons bring vibrant colour to the Himalayan Glade. Magnificent magnolias line the Slips and Water Gardens to Westwood Valley.

In summer, the Sir Henry Price Garden is rich with colour while sweet peas, roses and chocolate cosmos offer a delicious mix of scents. The secluded Iris Dell in the Water Gardens is filled with delicate Japanese irises and the wildflower meadows are a magnificent sight throughout the summer.

Spring and summerWelcome to Wakehurst

Set in a recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty deep in the

West Sussex countryside, Wakehurst is one of the most significant

botanic gardens in England. Since 1965, the Royal Botanic Gardens,

Kew has managed and transformed the private estate into a garden

where ornamental plantings and exotic tree and shrub collections of

international importance sit within 465 acres (188 hectares) of native

woodland. With its magnificent valley gardens, nature reserve and 16th

century mansion, Wakehurst offers its visitors a genuine chance to

immerse themselves in the heart of the English countryside.

Wakehurst is also home to the Millennium Seed Bank, which houses

and protects seeds taken from the world’s most substantial and diverse

collection of threatened and useful plants. This crucially important

science-based conservation programme is the largest of its kind in

the world and hopes to conserve these vital plant species out of an

estimated global total of 400,000.

Bethlehem Wood

Pinetum

Himalayan Glade

Westwood Lake

Wetland Conservation Area

Horsebridge Wood

Sandstone Outcrop

Southern Hemisphere Garden

Bloomers Valley

Rock Walk

Coates Wood

Loder Valley Reserve Entrance

Black PondThe Slips

Parterres

The Oaks

Recreation Area

Pollination Garden

Westwood Valley

Water Gardens

Compost Corner

Winter GardenWalled Garden

Spring Border

Tony Schilling Asian Heath Garden

B2028 Ardingly andHaywards Heath

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Monocot BorderSpecimen Beds

Mansion Pond

UK Native Seed Hubweather permittingSchools’ entrance

Entrance from road

Bus stop Visitor Centre

Mansion, Galleryand The Stables

MillenniumSeed Bank

GETTING HERE

Wakehurst is located in West Sussex on the B2028 between Turners Hill and Ardingly. Haywards Heath is the nearest railway station, approximately six miles away and Gatwick Airport is less than 15 miles away.

Our postcode is RH17 6TN.

OPENING TIMES

Daily from 10am. Closing times vary according to season.

Wakehurst is closed to the public on 24 and 25 December.

Wakehurst is awash with brilliant yellows, rich ambers and vivid reds of the National Collection of southern beech, while drifts of autumn crocus, meadow saffron and dainty cyclamen scatter the grass with their bright colours.

In winter, England’s tallest living Christmas tree, a towering giant redwood, is lit to herald the festive season. The year’s first snowdrops can be found in sheltered corners and the hardy flowers of the Winter Garden mean there is always something to admire at this special time of year.

Autumn and winter

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KEY

Shelter/hide

View point

Picnic tables

Baby changing facilities

Snacks and drinks

Guided walks start near the Carriage Ring

Toilets

PATHS

Made-up and suitable for wheelchairs

Gravel or bark, uneven in places

Grass paths Steep paths Arrival / entry / exit Buildings

KEW GARDENS

For more information about visits to Kew Gardens, including admission charges, and for help with planning your visit:

Tel: +44 (0)208 332 5648

Email: groups@kew.org

www.kew.org/groups

WAKEHURST

For more information about visits to Wakehurst, including admission charges, and for help with planning your visit:

Tel: +44 (0)1444 894067

Email: wakehurst@kew.org

www.kew.org/wakehurst-groups